Rav Avrohom's Proficiency

It is told that Rav Moshe Charif, the son-in-law of Rav Sheftel Horowitz (the son of the Shelah), was chief rabbi of Lwow before Rav Avrohom, who was then rabbi of the city of Janow. Once, Rav Avrohom was visiting for a conference of the Council of the Four Lands. The proprietor of the inn where he was staying told him there would be no meat for Shabbos, because the slaughtered animal had been declared treif (not kosher) by the chief rabbi. Hearing this, Rav Avrohom put on his Shabbos hat, which was attire reserved for the great rabbis of major cities, and went to visit the chief rabbi.

When the chief rabbi's servant saw him, he barred his entry, citing the chutzpah of the rabbi of a small, unimportant town in wearing such a hat. The chief rabbi heard the commotion and asked the servant to let Rav Avrohom in.

"To what do I owe the honor of your visit?" asked Rav Charif. "I came to discuss a matter of Jewish law with you," replied Rav Avrohom. He then began to discuss a theoretical case in the laws of kashrus and shechitah. "And if the slaughtered ox should have such and such signs?" asked Rav Avrohom. With flawless reasoning, he tactfully demonstrated through the theoretical case that the animal was in fact kosher and its meat should be permitted.

When Rav Charif realized his error, he summoned the other rabbonim and said to them, "This rav's proficiency in learning is obvious and he is greater than I. Henceforth I remove myself from this position, since he is more fitting than I am to be rav." So it was that Rav Moshe Charif stepped down from the position of chief rabbi and left for Olianov, and Rav Avrohom Ashkenazi Katzenelbogen took his place.